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The original was posted on /r/antiwork by /u/RegalReginald on 2025-06-24 23:17:24+00:00.

At what point, if any, will I feel ready?

After 10 years of LOVING my job, we had an ownership change. 10 years of putting my whole soul, time and brain into this small business, treating it as my own, becoming close friends with the owners and people that had gone through the trenches together. We worked a lot, but it was so fulfilling. I get that making it such a huge part of my identity wasn’t healthy, but after all of that - new ownership were just so different (as if often told). It was bottom-line not about the craft or the people. It was people that just had the money to buy what we had built.

I was one of two senior managers, we were given a pay increase to take on more responsibilities (was happy to!) but it was the value change, the strangers-in-charge, the 10 years of blood, sweat and tears validated by the people around me - gone. I had to prove myself from the bottom without any clear direction. Anyway - I pushed through burnout (thinking I needed to be better) for 10 months before I cracked.

I have been on LTD for 2 years now. It has taken more time than could’ve ever imagined to feel somewhat normal, the depression has improved greatly, anxiety, sleep, energy(ish). But I feel so far away from being able to work a job.

My insurance rep has been incredible. This last check in, she asked if I can see myself going back - I said no. We both know it. But now I’m worried - because as much as I know it will be difficult considering I won’t even return to that industry, I’m 40, and have no direction - I can not fathom a day-in-day out job. I’m also scared that if I start working again, that I’ll fall apart again.

Does anyone have any insight, advice or personal experience?

TLDR: Worked a job I loved for a decade, change of ownership and value-alignment and complete change in structure lead to severe medical burnout. 2 years later, I’m unsure of how to feel ready to return to the working world (though certainly not my old job).